Sitting in the car, watching the light of every building the car that passes by. Listening to music that is painful to hear in real life, sobbing that doesn’t seem to leave me, and drawing that offers new pain to me
Going into the old building where the music club was located was the first place I ever felt welcome. And this day might be the last day I’ll be going here. I'm afraid to step on my feet, maybe because I think they're disappointed in me. I haven't even done anything in this club, and now I will say goodbye. From the moment I pulled the doorknob, I was surprised by many party poppers. I didn't expect what they did; they hosted a farewell party for me. I was wrong in what I thought; it turns out they were not disappointed.
You know it's odd because not even a drop of tears came out of my eyes—maybe because I used up all my tears yesterday. All I could feel was happiness; despite the heartache, I was feeling, there was still some happiness left in me.
I didn't know the farewell party would be this happy, I expected it to be sad. Well, it's fun because they organized it. And now it’s time to give my farewell speech.
"Uhm… What should I say?" I asked with a giggle. "I- I don’t know exactly... But to be honest, I don’t want to say goodbye to each of you, maybe because I don’t want this bond, this kind of happiness, to end just like that. I badly want to spend a hundred years with you guys…" And those tears... the tears of joy shed. "Sorry for not doing anything for you guys. I was the reason why our band almost disbanded forever." When I was about to lower my head to offer apologies, they halted me from doing so by coming into me.
"It’s not true," Felipe said.
"You’ve done so many things for our club that without you, the music club probably will be gone forever," Tal added.
"You’re our miracle, Gemma." The twins suddenly kissed me on the top of my head.
The most unexpected moment comes when Miss Janna comes out with the violin in her hand. "These guys are secretly collecting money from the other member to buy you this, and they even threaten me not to say anything to you, or else they're gonna report me abusing them to the headmaster."
The five guys who are the cause of this just giggled and hid behind each other's backs.
I glared in their direction.
"But I admit what they did might be wrong, but they are the sweetest, and for that kindness you five give, I’ll forgive you."
"Yes!" Elias said out loud.
"For one month, the five of you will be responsible for cleaning the room—not just the room but the whole building," Miss Janna smiled sarcastically. "Are we good?"
"No!" Salis grumbled. While the others complained, Felipe, whom everyone knew to be responsible, accepted the punishment.
I’ve known them not too long, but it was as if I had been with them ever since. Going back to the days when we were desperate to save the club, I remember doing a lot of crazy things with them, even fighting with the scholars just to gain more members. Hiding when the teachers caught us unlocking the music room and running errands for the teacher, in exchange for their signature to bring back the club. Almost lost Tal. But it’s okay now. I looked around the room, where everyone was having so much fun. I think they will be fine even when I’m gone.
I tried to read every message they wrote on my uniform, causing my neck to strain.
"That’s a lot," Prince Emmanuel said.
"I think so too," I chuckled. The prince guffawed as he heard the story of the members of the club threatening Miss Janna and how she got back to them.
"They got some balls doing that with your teacher," he turned to gaze at me. "Should I hire them to threaten Amiyah? But kidding aside, what they did kinda impresses me."
"It’s cute," I added.
"How about Lincoln?" He changed the topic by mentioning Lincoln. "Did you say goodbye to him?"
"Yeah," I nodded as I was holding the things Lincoln gave me before leaving the Borstal.
I leave the music room for a bit to go over to the art club, where I can find Lincoln. Looking so serious, brushing the pencil on a white canvas paper. In the back of my hand is a piece of paper that I personally want to give him. I wanted to surprise Lincoln by slowly walking toward him and scaring him, but it didn’t go as planned. One of his club members appeared out of nowhere, destroying the plan I had in mind.
"Hey, Gemma!" The guy greeted me, waving his hand at me.
"Hey," I waved back, giving him a fake smile because he ruined my plan to scare Lincoln.
Lincoln, who was in the middle of sketching, halted and glanced over at me. "You’re not in your uniform, so I guess this is your last day in Borstal." He said it as if he had an idea why I was here.
"Do I still need to say why I’m here?"
"You came to say goodbye," he sprung up from his chair. "We are going to see each other often, there’s no need to say goodbye."
"You’re so sure," I said, stepping my foot near him. "I can’t go near any of you that is the favor I promise to the king." I handed the paper I had hidden behind my back earlier to Lincoln.
"I’m not his son, why would I obey the king?" he disagreed.
"But you are his son’s best friend, which is why we can’t," I sighed heavily. "Remember, when you ask me what's the thing that represents you, the answer is what I drew on the paper."
"Who cares if he's the king?" he said out loud. "You can’t just obey everything he asks for, even if he's the ruler of this country."
A peck on the nose cut him off from talking more.
Lincoln scoffed. "Did you just friend-zone me again?"
"Thank you, Lincoln…" I was about to turn my back on Lincoln when he told me to stop.
He mumbled some words that I couldn’t understand as he was getting something from the back of the board. "I wasn’t planning to give it to you, but I think you should have it since it’s yours in the first place.
When my hand was attempting to open the crumbled paper, Lincoln halted me, his expression turning worried. I grinned, signaling to him that I'd be fine, and when he seemed at ease, he put his hand away from mine.
After I saw the paper, I was not surprised but disappointed... to see that the sketch I did was now full of dirt.
My cheeks were squeezed together by Prince Augustus' fingers. "It's not that bad, Gemma." He flashed a smile. "I like this."
"I’ve seen the staff throw Augustus drawings. I was unable to retrieve all of the canvas. Luckily, I spotted yours before the cleaner took it off the building, and though it was crumbled, it was still okay... I guess?"
Nothing is coming out of my mouth but a nod.
"This drawing is worthy of being displayed. I liked it, Gemma."
"He didn’t throw it, the staff..."
"Maybe he did," I continued. "It’s fine. I made him dirty in this drawing anyway." My eyes stung.
I clutched the paper tight to my chest as I stepped out of the art room. The staff might be the ones who threw it, but I know Augustus is the one who commands them because that’s the kind of person he is.
"Do you think he’s okay?" I asked before finally going inside the house.
"To be honest, I think not." The word came out so fast. "Years will pass before he’ll move on, or perhaps he will never recover." Prince Emmanuel said.
He really is an honest guy. For the last time, I wrapped my arms around the prince, my head resting on his chest, where his heart was. Listening to the prince's heart pound is like listening to Augustus’s heart. "There’s still one thing I wanted you to do for me, Prince Emmanuel." I said as my head was still resting on his chest. "Could you tell Augustus to stop loving me? That way, his heart will have space to love Felicity."